Prince
by david sinclair
Pop
October 05, 2002
Hammersmith Apollo

IF IT wasn’t for the internet and concerts like this you wouldn’t know Prince still exists. His last album to be released on a proper record label, Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic, in 1999, sold a mere 5,000 copies in this country. His current album, The Rainbow Children, is being sold through his website, the medium by which the artist formerly known as a squiggle now conducts all relations with the outside world.
His performances are unadvertised and critics are expressly uninvited (although those who manage to write about his shows in sufficiently glowing terms may find their comments posted on his website).

His rejection of the demands of fame extends to the heart of his show itself and it is difficult to think of any other 44-year-old superstar who could get away with ignoring his core repertoire so completely as Prince did on Thursday night. More than two-and-a-half hours in, the grand tally of hits performed with the band consisted of Take Me With You, Raspberry Beret and Nothing Compares 2 U (which the audience was mostly required to sing for itself) while bits of one or two others found their way into a section performed solo at the keyboard. Whatever else he may be up to on this curiously-titled One Nite Alone tour, the singer who saw the era of the text message coming was certainly not trading on past glories.

Instead, aided by a six-piece band with a distinctly jazz-rock feel, he waded into a set dominated by material from The Rainbow Children. The dresscode was smooth criminal — suits, ties, a fedora here and there — with Prince looking like a star from the doo-wap era in his knife-sharp beige suit and floppy hair.

“I’m not interested in what you know, but what you’re prepared to learn,” he told us bullishly, after an incendiary version of 1 + 1 + 1 is 3, which like many of the songs combined a savage funk backbeat with extravagant lashings of faux-Hendrix guitar soloing.

Backed by a horn section comprising Maceo Parker, Greg Boyer and Candy Dulfer, and with bass player Rhonda Smith keeping the foxy female quotient up to par, Prince sang, danced and played with a knowing sense of regency flash to produce a performance that was more musically sophisticated than ever, and still dazzling to watch. “Real music by real musicians, huh?” he declared immodestly, but you could see his point.

The stage was thronged with fans, the houselights switched on and the band still going strong an hour after the show had “ended”. The man makes up his own rules. Perhaps they are still playing now.

http://www.timesonline.co...50,00.html
[This message was edited Sat Oct 5 4:53:04 PDT 2002 by july]

this article seems to be more of an analysis of who Prince as a person has become. Than the actual show. But it is interesting none the less... smile... 8)
[This message was edited Sat Oct 5 5:25:13 PDT 2002 by july]

nice, positive high profile review. liked it. (I'm going to start reviewing the reviews).

july said:

Prince has not become anything else then what he has always been - - -

SO FAR AHEAD - and THE REAL Trendsetter

But it is interesting none the less...

Thanks july

The only thing Prince has become after what Ive seen this weekend is happier.

GoldiesParade said:

I agree. Im glad this reviewer ended it on a high note.